Runesmith Announced: A Dwarven Turn-Based Tactical RPG Built on Ale, Revenge, and Rune-Fueled Chaos
Terahard Studios has announced Runesmith, a new turn-based tactical RPG that puts players deep into the boots of a fantasy dwarf with a forge to run, enemies to smash, and an unpaid debt to collect.
Runesmith is currently in development for Windows PC and is planned for release on Steam. A launch date has not yet been announced.
The game marks a major step for Terahard Studios, as it is the developer’s first full RPG project. Studio CEO Aris Tsevrenis described Runesmith as a long-time dream, explaining that the team wanted to create a fantasy role-playing game inspired by dwarven lore, tabletop RPGs, crafting, humor, and tactical combat. According to Tsevrenis, the game blends rune-based crafting with chaotic battle systems where player choices can lead to powerful combinations, unexpected disasters, or both.
In Runesmith, players take on the life of a proper fantasy dwarf. That means hammering runes into mythril, crafting weapons and armor, drinking heroic amounts of ale, getting into tavern brawls, and solving problems with the kind of direct violence dwarves are famous for.
The main story follows a band of questionable adventurers as they hunt down a dangerous summoner threatening the world. However, the motivation is not exactly noble. The villain still owes the dwarf money, and in true dwarven fashion, that debt must be paid. Saving the world is just a possible side effect.
One of the game’s biggest features is its rune-smithing crafting system. Players can forge weapons, armor, trinkets, and magical gear using an extensive rune engraving mechanic. These runes can interact in unusual ways, creating chain reactions that may give players a major advantage in battle or cause problems far bigger than the ones they were trying to solve.
Combat in Runesmith is designed around experimentation. Instead of standard turn-based RPG status effects, the game turns every fight into a sandbox of unstable magical interactions. A simple fog effect can become dangerous when mixed with poison. Drinking too much can push a character from drunk to hammered, and then straight into unconsciousness. The system rewards clever planning, risky decisions, and a willingness to embrace absolute chaos.
Outside of combat, players can live the life of a stubborn and ambitious dwarf. They can visit taverns, accept dubious jobs, improve their forge, deal with strange townsfolk, and explore mines, ruins, dungeons, and ancient places filled with monsters. The world is packed with merchants, nobles, priests, adventurers, and other characters who may be just as troublesome as the creatures lurking in the dark.
Runesmith aims to stand out among turn-based tactical RPGs by combining fantasy adventure, dark humor, deep crafting mechanics, and unpredictable rune-based combat. For players who enjoy tactical RPGs, dwarf-themed fantasy, chaotic status effects, and crafting systems with room for creativity, this could be one to watch.
